Y11 2023-24 thread 4

[Techno56]

New thread for GCSE survival 🙂

so sorry for all those with heavy weeks next week.
We have maths, chem and physics, so not bad at all.

dd is still in every day revising at school and revision sessions offered by school. Selective, but they are doing lots of support. Next week she is actually going to take Wednesday off! So we will pack her bag to go on holiday (she needs to pack days in advance)
Then finish with phyiscs on the friday.

Amazingly she has not had a single double exam day. I know we pulled her out of Eng lit and French, but even with those she would not have had a double day.

I do think those double days are hard on them.

Apparently last week there was one group with a triple exam day, they were shadowed by staff all day and started their Spanish exam at 3:30!!!!

Daughter really pleased with AQA higher biology. Though she did say for the IVF question that you inject fsh and lh into the egg. But happy with how it went. Biology was her worst science subject over the year.

Thank you for posting this.very happy to hear that. Bio is one of the hardest for DD with other content heavy subs.
like someone else posted the other day, I get the itch when it’s nearly time to finish the exams, DD would take sweet time to message, so here is my first port of call to check how it went x
on to weekend. Maths Chem and then we have two days off in between, then Physics and Geography I think on 14th.
Can’t wait for this to be over

DS messaged to say AQA Biology higher paper was ‘beautiful’, which at least suggests there weren’t any really obscure questions or high markers about one tiny bit of the spec (looking at you, Geography!)

AQA Bio Higher report here was it was "weird"?! Some odd questions, a maths-y question that wouldn't usually come up and so far no two people she's asked got the same answer. She found paper 1 much better than expected. Not choosing any sciences for A-level though. Only four left now - yippee!

I was just coming onto say I got a ‘weird but good’ message !!

Oh good @Countrylife2002 - well, not good that it was weird but good someone thought that too! I asked if it was bad but she said no, just weird. Tried to get her to elaborate but she is too tired. Science less high stakes for us as not A-level choice. Happy weekend, all. Almost there!

Both of mine weirdly quite happy with the biology too.

Hoping Biology went OK as not heard anything he seems to just call or messages when is not good!
Hooe you all have a good weekend

DD reports the AQA Bio paper 2 was easier than P1 - not an A Level subject for her so she'd be happy with a 5/6.

She's away to do a maths predicted paper now then going out with friends this evening to make the most of the sunshine!

I'm off to Tesco to buy new ink cartridges for the printer that has never worked so hard in its life

We got a erm it was ok, with a nervous laugh for bio P2, so no idea and it’s what DD wants to take at A-level- the stress!

Weird but good is the same sentiment . Apparently not as strong as paper 1

Very jealous of all those finishing next week

ds’s last exam is on June 19th!

Be careful what you wish for with age gaps too. In Wales lots of schools sit some GCSEs in year 10 as well as year 11 and then we have AS levels in year 12 and A levels in year 13 so it’s pretty relentless for 4 years albeit a bit less intense.

OMFG just found out that the fire alarm went off during biology and the school will apply for special consideration. Argh.

DD said that Biology was hard. She managed to answer all of the questions, but ran out of time for going back to review.

Ah well, that's another subject ticked off.

I've just reminded her that this time next week it'll all be over. Although Physics on Fri is an afternoon exam.

Dd reports that Aqa biology higher triple was harder than expected 😬 It’s an A level choice 🤪

Apparently it was all analysis and no knowledge?

Oh no, that's a lot of concentration lost. Hope they were able to recover from that.

Are we the only ones who do Edexcel sciences? DS seems happy but I think that is actually down to TFI Friday and TFI Biology is done with! 😂

He's having a little break doing some painting and then going to do some Nazi revision this evening, just reading notes rather than anything heavy as he was so stressed pre Biology.

I got "weird" as well. DS is very happy though - thinks he did as well, if not better than paper 1. Apparently no questions on the required practicals, difficult maths 6 marker. He did it twice and got the correct answer second time (at least in terms of how many of his class mates got the same answer at least). Nice question on urine (LOL).

He'd gone in for a revision session and managed to leave his pencil case in the biology lab. Got to the exam centre (complete other end of the school) and realised. Had a total wobble but he said the invigilator was lovely, lent him two pens, a ruler and a calculator and let him sit quietly for a couple of minutes to get over his wobble. Thank you to all the lovely invigilators

Weekend now. Maths Monday morning, Chemistry Tuesday morning and then long gap to Physics on Friday afternoon before it's all over.

DS may think it's all over soon but the new school have today sent out the English lit summer transition work - which includes two short essay submissions, reading The Great Gatsby and Paradise Lost IX & X and reading the text book. And that's just one subject! I'll let DS finish the exams before I mention this 😂

Snap!!

DD1 agrees weird but good for AQA Higher Biology. It's an A level choice and she's aiming for a 9. Fingers crossed.

Quick moment to say DD2 (Y10) has been made house captain today so came home with her new fancy tie and captain badge. Very chuffed for her, she had to submit an application form and have an interview so a rather daunting process and she's now in the running for head girl so will have another interview next term.

OCR combined higher was good, according to ds.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn we are Edexcel too. DS seems happy enough too. A Level choice for him and I'd say the one he's put in the most effort for so hoping it's paid off.

Congratulations!